Floating Dock for RAM Hits Rough Waters in Finance

[grimss]

Given RAM's apparent political clout, I wonder, if they had requested the $400K to renovate the fire station as their permanent offices or in some other RAM supporting role, if the priorities would have been different.  It would be a nice gesture and possibly more beneficial for RAM's long term interests for RAM leadership to consider this.  AS already mentioned, they could always work on the dock later.

I doubt the idea of spending city $ to move station #5 to benefit a private organization (RAP)-- albeit a non-profit 503-c org--would get very far in today's economic climate.

[urbanlibertarian]

Grabbed this from: http://theurbancoredotcom.blogspot.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               Contact:  Ben Pennymon, (904) 535-6257, benp@coj.net

                                                           

Mayor Peyton Signs Floating Dock Legislation at Riverside Arts Market



JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 26, 2010 â€" Mayor John Peyton will be joined by Council member Michael Corrigan and members of the Riverside Arts Market (RAM) and the St. Johns Riverkeeper as he signs legislation approving the development of a floating dock on the northern end of the Northbank Riverwalk.



WHEN:          Saturday, March 27

11 a.m.

                                     

WHERE:       Riverside Arts Market

                        715 Riverside Ave. -- 32204

                        Note: Ceremony will take place on the main stage at RAM.

           

            WHO:             Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton

                                    District 14 City Council Member Michael Corrigan

                                    Tony Allegretti, director, Riverside Arts Market

                                    Wayne Wood, founder, Riverside Avondale Preservation

                                    Neil Armingeon, St. Johns Riverkeeper

                                    Ron Barton, director, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission



The proposed 210 foot-long L-shaped floating dock will be used by boaters looking to access the area surrounding RAM from the St. Johns River.



The signing is a part of the River Day Celebration hosted by the St. Johns Riverkeeper and on-going activities at the Riverside Arts Market. It is intended to highlight the significance of one of Jacksonville’s most valued natural resources and the importance of providing access to the river at varying points.



###





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Ben Pennymon

Media Relations Officer

City of Jacksonville

Ph. (904) 630-3426

Cell (904) 535-6257

Fax (904) 630-2910

benp@coj.net



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[Charles Hunter]

Where would one move the Firehouse along Riverside?  All the land is privately owned - except a small fenced in lot across the street from FH5 that says "DOT" on the fence - but it doesn't look big enough for the FH.  The land under the bridge is used by Fidelity for parking during the week. 

[Kay]

The Firehouse is another project. While it COULD BE rolled into the Skyway with very little effort, AND FUNDED, it could also go the historical grant route. Regardless of what we think about the sanctity of the ground it sits on, a big dog wants that ground for their own purposes, and we agreed to it through representation. Can't go back on that deal and blacken our relocation eye with other companies. So move the damn building and let's do something positive with it. Why not under the bridge at RAM? Why not a Skyway TOD terminal? Why not a museum? Restaurant? Studio? Gallery? Crafts Mall? Just why the hell NOT?? (toss in the accent of Mac over at SPAR) Damn Jacksonville! Just DAMN! [/b]


OCKLAWAHA


What I've heard from people who should know is that Fidelity is going to give the land back to the City once the fire station is demolished.  I wish someone would dig into this.  If this is true, then Fidelity isn't the bad guy in this instance.  To move the fire station under the bridge is really cost prohibitive as it would have to be cut in half to fit under the bridge.  The best place to relocate it is somewhere in Brooklyn. 


[/quote]

[stjr]

I doubt the idea of spending city $ to move station #5 to benefit a private organization (RAP)-- albeit a non-profit 503-c org--would get very far in today's economic climate.

Grimss, if you are already wet, why get out of the rain?  The dock $$$ are doing what you state above for RAM.  And they were readily found and approved.  At this point, my query regarded priorities, not the funding.

[Noone]

The timing for the floating dock at RAM couldn't be better for the city of Jacksonville. I support it and am encouraged by the questions being asked by Cresimbeni and Yarborough. These common sense questions will ultimately save us the taxpayers money by understanding the costs. Imagine any savings being transferred to the 680' Landmar pier.

I attended Waterways and Rules where this legislation was discussed. The economic impact for Downtown and the region will be huge in my opinion.

I would hope that as this project moves forward that the members of this forum will focus on a floating dock at the 680' Public pier at the former Landmar site. That's in District 7 and councilman Gaffney is on board to have one at that location. There was a floating dock there during Super Bowl XXXIX.


Both additional waterway access points will benefit the entire downtown. The Springfield group should be excited about this additional opportunity with the potential Landmar pier and its proximity to Hogans Creek.

There is so much more. I hope the entire council supports the floating dock at RAM. The big story is what is the open competitive bid process and the taxpayer knowing what a real cost is to this tangible asset for the people of Jacksonville.

Again pats on the back to Cresimbeni and Yarborough whose questions will ultimately get us a better product.

3 years later. The RAM dock can only be used when RAM is open. Not Good.
2 days out from the 30 day RFI on Shipyards III. Will the Public Floating dock that is at Shipyards III be exempt from this RFI?
Where is Tony Allegretti and Paul Crawford on this?
The Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel, Berkman Floating dock compromise misrepresented by OGC to Waterways during the 2013 FIND grant application process. Who should be disbarred?
Palms Fish Camp, 8 years later next to a FIND project.
Special Waterways meeting for the Artificial Reef subcommittee 5/29/13 9:30 4Th floor city hall. Backroom deals?
Palmer Terrace Park and a mayor Brown kayak logo.
4/27/13 River City Challenge two years in a row and no presentations to anyone.
Given up asking you know who about you know what.
The Public Trust just destroyed.
Visit Jacksonville?

I am Downtown and why you aren't.

[dougskiles]

The RAM floating dock is only open when RAM is open because of concerns Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission has regarding manatees.  That area has a high concentration of manatees and they did not want to increase motorized boat traffic above a certain level.  This was a condition of the permit.

[Noone]

At a recent Waterways meeting commissioner Stephen Swann asked Dr. White about the permitting of docks and the correlation of Manatee deaths and the ban on the permitting has been lifted. The reason is that the deaths of manatees still exceeding the magic number of 5 that was used as the guideline. The difference is that the deaths are being attributed to Natural as opposed to motorized causes. I welcome any correction to this but Doug it appears the concerns have been lifted.

When this happened I don't know. Don't recall seeing anything or reading anything about it. All of a sudden it seems that everything is good and a go all over Duval county for dock building. Projects use to come before Waterways but now don't. Any idea of the massive dock project at I believe it's Jackies on the Trout River as one example.

So if everything is now hunky dory then put the Mayor Brown kayak logo on the RAM dock along with a bicycle rack and unlock the gate and open the River along with this Public Access from the Waterway to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our newly created highly restricted DIA zone.

Tomorrow is the last day for the RFI on Shipyards III which only has a 30 day window. At the 5/3/13 Downtown Experience subcommittee meeting of the DIA I asked Tony Allegretti and Paul Crawford if anyone pulled up to the PUBLIC floating dock at Shipyards could they use it and it was a big NO! NO! Should this Public Floating dock be outside this RFI? I'd say yes.

The Public Trust just crushed. And let's not forget the Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel, Berkman Floating dock compromise misrepresented by OGC to Waterways during the 2013 FIND grant application process. Who should be disbarred? This is our ad valorem property tax revenue. Commissioners of FIND. We are LOST?

Pick and choose the winners and losers.

Downtown a Destination? Only if you can access it.

[cline]

So if everything is now hunky dory then put the Mayor Brown kayak logo on the RAM dock along with a bicycle rack and unlock the gate and open the River along with this Public Access from the Waterway to our St. Johns River

There are a couple launches on the other side of the river (Southbank)- are you opposed to using those or something?